Died On This Date (March 21, 2004) Johnny Bristol / Prolific Motown Songwriter

Johnny Bristol
February 3rd, 1939 – March 21, 2004

Part of the Motown hit making machine from 1961 to 1973, Johnny Bristol could take partial credit for countless massive hits as a writer and/or producer. Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Michael Jackson, Edwin Starr and Stevie Wonder are just a handful of who he has helped make superstars out of. Bristol also released a half-dozen of his own albums throughout the 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s. He passed away at the age of 65, reportedly from natural causes.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Johnny Bristol

Died On This Date (March 6, 2009) David Williams / Acclaimed Session Guitarist

David Williams
November 21, 1950 – March 6, 2009

David Williams was one of pop music’s most in-demand session rhythm guitarist since the ’80s.  Playing guitar since he was a teenager, Williams’ big break came when he was hired to play on Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall album.  For the next several years he played on other Jackson family albums, including Michael’s Thriller, where his familiar guitar parts are featured on “Billie Jean.” Over the course of his highly successful career, Williams either recorded or toured with, to name just a small portion, Madonna, Rod Stewart, Bryan Ferry, Paul McCartney, Lionel Richie, Jessica Simpson, Genesis, and Diana Ross.  His guitar work was such in demand, that he is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the guitarist who appears on the most #1 hit records in the world.  David Williams was 58 when he died of a heart attack on March 6, 2009.



Died On This Date (February 22, 1976) Florence Ballard / The Supremes

Florence Ballard
June 310, 1943 – February 22, 1976

florence-ballardFlorence Ballard was a founding member of influential Motown singing group, the Supremes.  Born and raised in Detroit, Ballard began singing in local groups while still a teenager.  In 1959, she successfully auditioned for a female vocal group called the Primettes who, after a few personnel changes eventually signed with Motown Records as the Supremes, with the most successful formation of the group including Ballard, Diana Ross and Mary Wilson.  Over the next eight years with the Supremes, Ballard sang on nearly a dozen #1 hits and helped the women become one of the most influential female groups in history.   In the spring of 1967, Ballard left the group and launched a solo career, but it failed to bring her back into the spotlight.  Personal and financial problems plagued Florence Ballard during the final years of her life, and on February 22, 1976, she died of cardiac arrest.  She was 32.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Gold: The Supremes - The Supremes

Died On This Date (December 1, 2009) Donald Washington, Sr. / Respected Jazz Saxophonist

Donald Washington, Sr.
1930 – December 1, 2009

Donald Washington, Sr. was Philadelphia-area tenor saxophonist who was a vital part of the local jazz scene from the late ’60s through the mid ’80s.  Over the course of his career, he played with the likes of Nat King Cole, Sammy Davis Jr., B.B. King, and Diana Ross.  He was 79 when he died of cancer on December 1, 2009.